Spring clip



Oct 11, 1966 B. E. mxsow ETAL 3,273,144

SPRING CLIP Filed Dec. 4, 1964 United States Patent 3,278,144 SPRING CLIP Bruce E. Dixson and Willis C. Ball, Grand Junction, Colo.,

assiguors to Dixson, Iuc., Grand Junction, Col0., a corporation of Colorado Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 416,079 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-27) There have, of course. been many prior art attempts to provide a simple and convenient fastener for this purpose. Of these, the most common is a punched sping metal plate adapted to cooperate with a bolt in much the same way as an ordinary nut. While this type of fastener is cheaper and oftentimes faster to mount, they are hard to remove and possess the same access problems as the conventional nut and bolt connector.

Another common type of mount is the bracket or bail that attaches to the back of the meter and has arms projecting therefrom that press against the inside of the mounting panel or fasten thereto in some manner. These units are usually costly and complicated, their main advantage being one of versatility. Many also have no provision for preventing the instrument from rotating in its mounting hole other than such frictional contact as the arms maintain against the panel.

Ideally, such a fastener should require no tools to either lock or release same, necessitate no oversized openings to accommodate it, be completely detachable from the meter case, eliminate all threaded connections and, above all, securely fasten the meter to the panel in correct position and maintain this position until detachment becomes necessary. A spring clip of some type is the obvious answer to the aforementioned requirements, however, the prior art has failed to produce one that meets the need. For instance, one of the better sheet metal clips designed for use on plain cylindrical studs actually bites into the stud surface and scores same in order to provide the necessary holding power. The scored stud surface makes removal difficult and also interferes with reuse. Another type projects onto the exposed face of the instrument panel presenting a rather unfinished appearance. One of the best is concealed behind the instrument panel and otherwise answers the above-noted requirements except that the meter is left free to rotate in the mounting hole and the clips are free to work loose under certain operating conditions where the meter is subjected to vibration.

It has now been found in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention that all of the aforementioned desirable features can be attained through the use of a pair of simple C-shaped spring metal clips having one end apertured to receive a retaining stud and the other end adapted to fit into a narrow depression in the case. No tools are required to either fasten or release the clips. They act to pull the flanged meter case back snugly against the mounting panel while the studs cooperate therewith to prevent rotation and initially orient the dial or other indicator. The diametric location of the clips causes them to oppose one another in a manner to prevent loosening or accidental removal even under severe operating conditions.

Therefore, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means for attaching meters and similar instruments to a mounting panel.

A second object is to provide a device of the type aforementioned that requires no tools to either fasten or unfasten same.

Another objective of the invention herein disclosed and claimed is to provide a spring clip fastener that cooperates with studs and slots on the meter case to orient the meter relative to its mounting panel and maintain such position.

3,278,144 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 Still another object of the invention is the provision of an instrument mount which eliminates the need for oversized panel openings and leaves the rear of the panel-un obstructed so as to permit the installation of other components in the area ordinarily occupied by the mounting brackets, bolts and the like.

Additional objects of the invention forming the subject matter hereof are to provide a meter mounting assembly that is simple, inexpensive, easy to install, compact, lightweight, secure, versatile and adaptable to various types and styles of instruments.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevation showing a meter case secured within an opening in an instrument panel by spring clips, portions of the case having been broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG- URE 1 with the panel shown in section and a part of the meter case broken away to reveal the clip-receiving recess; and,

FIGURE 3 is a left end elevation showing the panel and clip in section.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, it will be noted that reference numeral 10 identifies an instrument panel of conventional material containing an opening 12 of a size and shape adapted to receive the rearwardly-extending hidden portion 14 of the meter case that has been broadly designated by reference numeral 16. In the particular form shown, the meter case is of molded construction providing a generally cylindrical hidden portion 14 carrying an integrally-formed rectangular face 18 in the front thereof that produces a peripheral flange adapted to abut the front face of the instrument panel and prevent the meter from passing back through hole 12. Obviously, the illustrated instrument is intended as being merely representative of one of the many types and styles thereof that are in common use. The hidden portion 14 can, of course, be made in other shapes without departing from the teaching of the instant invention so long as this portion can be formed to include the diametrically-opposed recesses 20 that receive the ends 22 of C-shaped spring metal clips 24.

As for the front or dial-forming portion 18 of the meter case 16, it, likewise, can be of various shapes and sizes so long as it extends beyond the edges of the opening 12 in the panel far enough to provide surfaces adapted to carry rearwardly-extending studs 26. Nearly all meters have some type of peripherally-flanged case, the flange extending beyond the borders of the opening in the panel hiding the edges thereof and serving to form an abutmen. preventing the meter from moving back through the opening.

Studs 26 are integrally formed on the rear of the flangeforming face or dial of the meter case and they lie directly in front of the recesses 20 although spaced slightly outside thereof as shown. Suitably positioned apertures 28 are, of course, provided in the instrument panel alongside the main case-receiving opening 12 to receive the studs 26. The studs 26 must project slightly beyond the rear face of the panel 10 so as to provide a portion capable of retaining the apertured ends 30 of the C-shaped spring clips 24. Also, the location of apertures 28 in the panel must be such that the meter 16 is correctly oriented rotarially.

Spring clips 24 have openings 32 in the apertured ends 30 thereof adapted to receive the projecting ends of studs 26 as shown. With these apertured ends retained on the studs and the opposite ends 22 of the clips 24 seated within the recesses 20 in the case, the meter is biased rearwardly such that the flange-forming face 18 is pulled up snug against the panel. The studs 26 cooperate with panel apertures 28 to prevent relative rotational movement between the meter and instrument panel. These same elements along with the hidden portion 14 of the meter case and its panel opening 12 cooperate to prevent relative transverse motion between the meter and panel such as would release the spring clips from their recesses prematurely.

In the particular form illustrated, ends 22 of the clips bottom in recesses 20 of the case, however, the clips will function in the same manner if placed in bottomless slots of the type that would be the easiest to fabricate in Stamped metal cases having thin wall structures. Note that the depth to which the ends 22 enter the recesses 20 is insignificant so long as it is sufficient to prevent the clips from slipping back out. Also, the apertured ends 30 of the clips are restrained by studs 26 from spreading apart which is a major disadvantage of the prior art meter-mounting clips.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the meter mount of the present invention, it will be seen that the several worthwhile objectives for which it was developed have been realized. Although but a single specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, we realize that certain changes and modifications therein may well occur to those skilled in the art Within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is our intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a panel-mounted instrument case having a rearwardly-projecting hidden portion adapted to pass through an opening in a mounting panel shaped to receive same and a flange-forming exposed portion bordering the front end of the hidden portion adapted to project laterally beyond the edge of the panel opening, a pair of integral studs projecting rearwardly from the flange-forming portion on opposite sides of the hidden portion adapted to pass through openings therefor provided in the panel, and means located on opposite sides of the hidden portion spaced rearwardly of the studs and inwardly thereof adapted to receive and releasably retain an end of a spring metal clip; and, a pair of generally C-shaped spring metal clips having an aperture in one end thereof adapted to slip over the end of the stud projecting behind the panel and an opposite end adapted to connect with the means in the hidden portion of the instrument case provided to receive same and bias the exposed portion of the case rearwardly against the panel.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which: the means carried by the hidden case portion adapted to receive the clip ends comprises opposed openings.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which: the clip is formed from a strap of spring metal; and, the means carried by the hidden case portion adapted to receive the clip ends comprise opposed outwardly-opening recesses.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which: the hidden portion of the meter case is cylindrical, the studs are located diametrically relative to said cylindrical portion, and the clip-end receiving means are located in the same diametrical plane as the studs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1950 Nodine 248-27 8/1950 Judd 248-27 

1. IN COMBINATION: A PANEL-MOUNTED INSTRUMENT CASE HAVING A REARWARDLY-PROJECTING HIDDEN PORTION ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH AN OPENING IN A MOUNTING PANEL SHAPED TO RECEIVE SAME AND A FLANGE-FORMING EXPOSED PORTION BORDERING THE FRONT END OF THE HIDDEN PORTION ADAPTED TO PROJECT LATERALLY BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE PANEL OPENING, A PAIR OF INTEGRAL STUDS PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM THE FLANGE-FORMING PORTION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HIDDEN PORTION ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH OPENINGS THEREFOR PROVIDED IN THE PANEL, AND MEANS LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HIDDEN PORTION SPACED REARWARDLY OF THE STUDS AND 